Iran’s Missile Arsenal: What It Has Used and What It Could Deploy

Iran launched a significant missile barrage on major cities across Israel on Friday. Nationwide alerts have been issued, with residents urged to seek shelter immediately, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. “At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat,” the IDF added.

The missile attacks come amid an escalating war that began last week after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Since then, Tehran has fired over 400 missiles into Israel, marking one of the largest missile campaigns in recent regional history. This raises urgent questions about how many missiles Iran has left and what lies ahead in the conflict.

Newsweek has reached out to the foreign of Iran and Israel for comment.

Why It Matters

Missiles are central to Iran’s strategy against Israel, shaping the conflict’s scale and duration. Tracking how many missiles Iran has launched—and how many remain—offers critical insight into the war’s future intensity and the effectiveness of missile defenses. While Iran’s missile threat deters wider regional escalation, the size and condition of its missile reserves remain unclear, leaving uncertainty about Tehran’s ability to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, increased U.S. military support for Israel and warnings of possible intervention raise the stakes, complicating Iran’s missile strategy and broader regional stability.

What To Know

Since the start of the Israel conflict, Iran has launched over 400 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities and military sites. These include older models like the Ghadr and Emad, as well as the Kheibar Shekan, a medium-range, solid-fuel missile with improved maneuverability. Crucially, Tehran has also used the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile, which travels at speeds up to Mach 15, making interception extremely difficult.

Advanced Missiles

While Iran has launched many missile types, some advanced systems remain largely unused in the current conflict. These include the Khorramshahr, a liquid-fueled missile capable of striking up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) with a payload around 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Earlier, Iranian media outlets linked to the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) did share a video showing the launch of a Khorramshahr but footage that is now circulating widely online is from a test in 2023, and there do not appear to be explicit claims from Iran about its use.

Missile Stockpile

Before the conflict, multiple intelligence assessments—including those cited by experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)—estimated Iran’s operational ballistic missile stockpile at around 2,000 missiles. However, no official or recent public figure confirms the exact number. Considering the volume of missiles launched and intercepted, some estimates suggest Tehran may now have fewer than 1,000 missiles left in its arsenal. This figure remains unverified and uncertain, especially as Iran reportedly relocates launchers and conceals stockpiles to maintain its operational capabilities.

Israeli Response

Israel’s multi-layered defense system—including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3 interceptors—has stopped many incoming missiles. Still, some have breached defenses, striking urban areas, military bases, and key infrastructure, showing the limits of even advanced systems.

Offensively, Israel has launched over 250 airstrikes and dropped more than 330 precision-guided bombs on Iranian targets. These strikes have mainly targeted missile production sites, storage depots, and launchers, but have also hit civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, according to local media. While Israel says the attacks aim to degrade Tehran’s strike capacity, collateral damage on both sides has raised concern among international observers.

What Happens Next

As missile exchanges escalate, both Iran and Israel appear committed to continued strikes. The U.S. has urged restraint while increasing surveillance and regional deployments. International governments are calling for de-escalation amid rising civilian casualties, but so far, diplomatic efforts have failed to slow the pace of the conflict.